I set up to leave, stocked with a package carefully hidden in my satchel. The annoying feeling of missing something stops me from leaving the room, but the knowledge is beyond my reach, so I take a deep breath and let it slide.
“Good luck, Seleste Berigander. I am looking forward to our cooperation.” She smiles in a way that makes me nauseous, and I have no idea why. I have one goal: to redeem myself, not to create a court. The newfound determination rides me hard. How could I have struggled so much to set my priorities straight? It’s so easy; make a decision, and stick to it.
“Be ready to leave at dawn,” I say, stepping into our tent. Aidon lounges nearby, his gaze fixed on Jestin and Riven’s heated game of Curse Dice.
Motherfucking Curse Dice.
“Are you out of your mind?” I shout in outrage. That thing is fucking savage. I once lost an eye, broke a nose, and had all my nails ripped off, my insides exposed — but I still won. It’s only for those reckless enough not to care if they survive. Adrenaline junkies are making a fortune off it.
You start it with a handshake, binding your path. One dice, one opponent. You throw the dice, wait for a curse, then the next turn begins. The first to speak Surrender loses. Some do not surrender — the lure of the blessing is too strong.
The dice carries hexes within. Some are cruel but survivable: a hand gone, your sight stolen; others are merciless, ending lives in a heartbeat.
At the end, the curses lift, reversed by the dice itself. The last one standing receives a blessing: power, luck, or favour, whispered to change their destiny.
It became so popular that bet shops sprang up all across Rhodria. I left my fortune there, and still have nightmares from some of the curses I’ve received.
Many consider themselves fearless… until the dice proves otherwise. Fucking losers.
“We have a debt to settle,” murmurs Riven, and I shake my head. I thought they were smarter than that. For a heartbeat, I contemplate tearing them a new asshole for being so reckless,but I decide against it. Making friends is no longer on my list of priorities.
“Making friends isn’t a priority…” Aidon echoes my own words, making sure every male can scowl at me.
Whatever. I stare at each of them, daring them to make a face. They don’t. Jestin doesn’t say a word. The purple bruises beneath his eyes speak for him. And Riven’s face is coated in remorse.
Good.
“We’re taking a herbalist with us. I won’t accept any objections,” I say and leave before they can answer. As I go, I hear a hiss of pain, a curse forming, but I head towards the shops, leaving them to their stupidity. Even my shattered heart doesn’t bleed at the thought of them in pain.
“What’s wrong with you?” Aidon calls out to me, but I don’t slow down. He has no trouble overtaking me and stands in my way.
There’s no storm…he muses, probably trying to figure out what’s different about me.Something’s missing. You don’t feel the same… you seem… less.
“No winning with you,” I reply.
What happened at the Witch’s?he asks, forcing me to meet his gaze, his presence in my mind a sour reminder of my folly.
Why is he so goddamn nosy? Is it a genetic trait, or just his flaw?
“Have you had trouble sleeping? Hmm?” He searches my face for answers. “No, that’s not it. What have you done?”
Guilt creeps in, but I shut it down. I should buy more refreshment potions…
“Why the guilt?” He is looking more and more agitated.
“Listen, mutt, the time for your questioning is over. If you want to stay, you will respect me. At least, till Gorok blesses meand allows me to break the bond, which will happen because no High Queen has ever been used like that.”
“Or what?” He raises his eyebrow. “You like being used.”
“I will kill you, and suffer through the punishment,” I say, truly believing the words. Strange. So much clarity.
“You adore me,” he says, outraged, pushing harder into my mind.
I feel his presence forcefully tearing through my thoughts.
“Stop!” I command, pushing my will into the words, and Aidon falls to his ass with a mighty thump.
I am not able to stop the smirk.
